Retreat from the Culloden Battlefield

It is worth setting out the facts regarding the movements of "Bonnie Prince Charlie" after the defeat of Jacobite army at Culloden on 16 April 1746. On this webpage the facts will be set out from available resources and the readers can judge for themselves which set of facts are the most probable.

Faillie Ford - crossing point on the River Nairn on the way to Fort Augustus.

Sources state that Edward Burke led the Prince from Culloden together with some of his friends and cavalry. They crossed the River Nairn at Faillie Ford and had a conference to debate future strategy. Was this the place where the Prince decided to end the Rebellion?

The point of the crossing would be a start to identifying the probable site where Prince Charles, in conference with friends, decided to abandon the Rebellion and leave the remainder of his army at Ruthven Barracks.

Documentation

Discussion points

1. There was no need for Prince Charles to cross the River Nairn unless he was going to Ruthven Barracks to join his army.2. If Prince Charles intended to head for Fort Augustus when he left the battlefield then the way was clear to do so without crossing the River Nairn.3. There is a possibility that his friends advised him to seek a safer place to save himself than Ruthven Barracks.